Meade is the manufacturer of some of the best telescopes on the market. One of the best things they do is blur that line between professional and amateur, offering high-grade devices at reasonable prices.

Are there disadvantages to the Lx90’s design? Of course there are. But the positive attributes far outweigh the negatives. If you’re in the market for a new backyard scope–or a small-yet-powerful machine for your observatory–the Lx90 is the answer to your astronomical prayers.

Meade Lx90 Telescope Review

Since it came on the scene in 1999, the Lx90 has been praised as one of the best backyard telescopes around. Its combination of user-friendly software and top-notch electronic sophistication certainly had something to do with that.

The differences between them refer to aperture size, or how much light is transmitted through the device. Generally speaking, smaller is better for home use, while bigger is more suited to laboratory or observatory work. However, keep in mind that even the smallest size Lx90 is pretty big, considering that Meade is in the habit of using over-sized primary mirrors in their designs. So, an Lx90 ACF 8″ telescope actually measures out to 8.25″. You always get more bang for your buck with Meade.

Some other ways Meade manages to stay on top of their game and remain relevant to both the amateur and professional astronomer communities include:

AutoStar — Introduced more than a decade ago, this is a now-industry-standard hand control for regulating the telescope’s performance.

GPS — Built with a Sony GPS receiver, the Lx90 talks freely with satellites for precise date, time, and geographical coordinates.

Auto Align — All you have to do is set up, turn on, and calibrate the Meade Lx90 and it will take you on a unique tour of the stars. All the best sights in the universe are pre-programmed for your viewing pleasure.

The Meade Lx90 sure has a lot going for it, but what about the drawbacks? What are some reasons you might want to think twice about buying this particular telescope?

Well, the price is steep, even though it may be inexpensive compared to its competition. You want to make sure you’re really serious about stargazing before you lay down the $2,000 it costs to own one of these. But if you ARE serious, take note that this price is much lower than a majority of the competition.

Like most of Meade’s telescopes, the Lx90 is a pretty hefty device and difficult for one person to maneuver–in fact, it’s recommended that two people work together to lift or move the telescope. This might have something to do with the oversized primary mirror or with the cutting-edge technology used to create a professional scope out of an amateur model.

In the end, of course, the final decision is up to you. If you’re looking to make an investment on a high-end piece of stargazing equipment, however, you’d do well to spend some more time with the Meade Lx90.

Meade Lx90 Telescope: Customer Reviews

To help sway you one way or the other, here’s a look at what real customers have had to say about the Meade Lx90’s design and performance.

Consumers like:

AutoStar is very easy to use

Mind-blowing image quality

Completely silent slow motor

Consumer don’t like:

High price for just one eyepiece

Very heavy design

Set-up can take up to 30 minutes

Meade Lx90 Telescope: Summary

The Bottom Line — The Meade Lx90 is the reason for the saying: “dynamite comes in small packages”. This is an ultra-powerful telescope capable of producing some the best backyard views of the expansive night sky. It may be a bit pricey and it may be a bit heavy, but the disadvantages simply pale in comparison to the advantages.